Automatic record changer for phonographs



Feb. 3, 1948. .A, ANSAR 2,435,264

AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGER FOR PHONOGRAPHS I Filed June 10, 1942' 3Sheets-Sheet 1- Rasam filo/ Len Feb. 3, 1948. A'. J. ANSAR AUTOMATICRECORD CHANGER-FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed June 10, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 2 00m2 m I INVENTOR v ll/voms l/ia/mlv flmmk 4 ATTORN EY Feb. 3, 1948. JANSAR AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGER-FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed June 10, 1942 3Sheets-Sheet 3 I VENTOR. W a

@ATTJRNEY Fatented Feb. 3, i948 AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGER FOR PHONOGRAPHSAnders Johan Ansar, Nykoping, Sweden, assignor to Svenska AktiebolagetGasaccumulator, Lidingo, near Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation of SwedenApplication June 10, 1942, Serial No. 446,407 In Sweden July 24, 1941 6Claims.

a My invention relates to an arrangement in automatic record changersfor phonographs.

A known kind of automatic record changers for phonographs is providedwith a guide pin for the center perforation of the phonograph records,formed in such a way that when a record is released from a stack held ina tilted position above the turntable, the record is by its own weightfed downwardly to the playing position at the center of the turntable.Such record change arrangements were, however, only usable for recordsof the same diameter. If the stack contained alternatingly small andlarge records, the feeding could not take place with accuracy.

The present invention refers to an arrangement by which this difficultyis removed. In accordance with the present invention the records are notonly carried at their center perforation but also at least at one placealong the edge, and if small records as well as large records arecarried connection with the annexed drawings, in which Fig. 1 is anenlarged vertical section taken on the line l-l of Fig. 2, the guide pinfor the records being shown, and the supporting arm being in supportinposition for the guide pin; Fig. 1a is an enlarged sectional View on theline la--la of Fig. 1; Fig. 1b is a sectional view on the line lb-Ib ofFig. 1a; Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the supporting arm l6 broken awayand swung to the left out of supporting position; Fig, 3 is a plan viewfrom below showing the chassis plate and mechanism below the chassisplate; Fig. 4

v is an enlarged View of a portion of the mechain this way, and are fedfrom the bottom of the stack, it is necessary in order that the recordsbe free from the carrying arrangement arranged at the edge, that theguide pin be formed in such a Way that a sufficient great sidedisplacement of the records is obtained. According to the invention theguide pin is of such a form that the center perforation of the record,during the movement of the record from stacked position into playingposition, is displaced in radial direction with relation to theturntable a distance which is at least equal to the difference in radiusbetween the largest and the smallest record. Usually this radialdifference is equal to one inch or 2.5 cm.

Automatic record changers are, however, as a rule further provided witharrangements which cause the pick-up arm to be elevated from the recordjust played, to be swung out, so that there is room for the change ofrecord, to be again swung in over the initial groove on the new recordand to be lowered to this initial groove. However, the initial groove ina record is located at a different radius, dependent upon the, size ofthe record, and the position in which the pickup arm should be loweredwill therefore be different. For this reason there must be mechanismresponsive to the diameter ofthe record. This is also part of thepresent invention.

The character of such mechanism and of other details of the inventionwill be apparent from the following description of one form of theinvention, but it is to be understood that substantial modifications maybe made within the scope of the invention. The invention is described innism employed to automatically open the motor. switch after the lastrecord has been played; Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view ofthe mechanism for raising and turning the pick-up arm; and Fig. 6 is across-sectional view of dash pot arrangement for causing only rapidradially inward movement of the pick-up arm to initiate a record change.

The turntable in Fig. 1 is indicated by reference character Hi. It issecured to a vertical shaft II by means of a bushing Ila, which isdriven by the usual motor, There is mounted on the shaft l l a guide pinl2 for the records, which is of a special kind. Guide pins of the knownkind are provided with a, notch I3, directed upwards, and a notch i l,diametrically opposed to the first mentioned notch and directeddownwards. The distance between these notches, measured perpendicularlyto the plane of the notches, is very little greater than the greatestthickness of a record, but in any case less than the total thickness ofthe two thinnest records, which may be played. Such guide pins act insuch a way, that when the stack of records, mounted on the notch 13 ismoved sideways, only that record which is in the lowest position in thestack may be displaced under the notch 14, so that it is freed and mayfall down on the turntable as or on the records already on the turntablethe record thereby being guided by cooperation between the part of theguide pin l2 below the notches and the center perforation of the record.

From these earlier known guide pins the guide pin 12 differs by bothform and angle of inclination. The inclination is chosen in such a waythat the record, during its movement downwards alon th guide pin isdisplaced sideways a distance of at least 2.5 cm. or one inch, which ishalf the difference in diameter between a ten inch record and a twelveinch record.

The records rest with the edges of the center perforation against thenotch l3, and simultaneously the records rest with one point of theirperiphery against the feed down mechanism, shown to the left in Fig. 1.The mechanism includes an arm :6, which may be'swung about a hinge [5,said arm being at its outer end provided with a perforation ll, throughwhich extends the top of the guide pin [2, This serves for securing theguide pin 12 against any tendency to be rotated by rotation of the shaftII. The perforation l'i suitably is provided with a hairpin spring l8,shown in Figs. 1 and 1a, which engages a groove [9 inithe guide pin, theposition of the arm lfi'thereby bein fixed so that it is centered withrespect to the upper end of pin l2 and does not fall down on to therecords. About the perforation I? there is further secured by screws 20aa guide collar 2c in order to facilitate the centering of theperforation I! right with respect to the top of the guide pin 12.

The spring I8 is" extended to form a hinge ii for a further arm 22,which is at its other end provided with a weight 23, secured thereto inany suitable manner, as indicated at 23a, which normally rests on thestack of records above or adjacent to a support, provided by the recordchanging mechanism to the left in Fig. 1.

The record changing mechanism is carried by a frame 24 with arectangular opening 25, in which a record pusher 2tmoves. The pusher 26includes upper and lower plates secured together by screws and forminglongitudinally extending grooves at their mating edges which embrace theedges of the opening 25 in frame 24. The record I pusher is mounted inthe opening 25 in such a Way that it can move to and fro a smalldistance in the lengthwise direction of the opening, parallel to theplane of the paper in Fig, 1, being guided by the edges of the opening25. This movement is effected by an angular part 2?, cooperating with acatch member 29 arranged at one end of a lever 28. The lever 28 may beturned about a stud 30, and it is further turnably connected to a pullbar 3|, which obtains its movement from a cam disc construction, whichshall be further described in the following.

The record pusher 26 carries two push portions 32 and 33, the former ofwhich is intended for records of the greater diameter and the latter oneof which for records of the smaller diameter, The push portion 33 isprovided with a test pin I48, but this pin, in order not to prevent thecontact of a large record with the push portion 32 as well as toindicate for another purpose in a manner which is further describedbelow, if a large record or a small record is placed at the bottom ofthe stack, is so arranged that it may be pushed down into the body ofthe record pusher 26 against spring action. The spring action is causedby means of a flat spring 34, connected between a washer 35 on a cap 36and the head of a screw 31, and bearing against a, part 38 connected tothe lower end of the test pin M8. The left end of part 38 is angular andthe part is arranged in such a way that it may be displaced downwardlywhile being guided by the neck of the cap 36. The member 38 will move insynchronism with the movement of the record pusher. If a. small recordis placed as the lowest record in the stack, the test pin I48 in acertain moment during the movement of the record pusher will be in itselevated position, and the angular part 38 during its movement will insuch case pass above and out of contact with a lever 39 turnable about afixed pivot 39a. If, however,

1' a large record should be placed at the bottom of the stack, the testpin I48 and the member 38 will be forced down, so that the latter duringits movement will catch the end of the lever 39. In a manner, whichshall be explained later, this results in the pick-up arm being loweredwhen in the proper position for the needle to enter the starting groovein a large record, Whereas the V anopening 302 in the plate, issurrounded by a rubber ring 4|, which cooperates with the peripheryof acam disc 42. The cam disc is mounted in an opening 42a inthe plate 40and is rotatably supported on a shaft having a bearing 3H] in-a bar62's'panningthe opening 42a above the plate 40; and a bearing 3|2 in asimilar bar 3M below the opening; The cam disc 42 is provided with a'plurality of grooves, some of which are in its'upper face, while theremainder are inits lower facel At present the function of the groove inthe upper face will be explained. The pull bar 31, shown-in Fig. 1,which is placed below the chassis plate 40, is bent in such a way inS-form, that it extends through an opening 43 in the chassis plate 40 toits upper side. There it is pivotally connected to an intermediate point44 of a lever 45', which is pivotally connected to the chassis plate bya stud 46. The lever 45 at its free end carries a guide pin 41, directeddownwards, which constitutes a cam follower cooperating with the groove48 in the cam disc 42.

The cam disc 42 is provided with a recess 152 in its periphery ofsuflicient size so that the rubber roller 4| may freely rotate therein.However a very small movement of the cam disc causes the rubber rollerto ride up on to the periphery of the cam disc, and the cam disc willthen be rotated by roller 4|, which is continuously driven by thephonograph motor. The rubber roller continuously rotates in clockwisedirection, and the cam disc therefore will rotate in counter-clockwisedirection, as indicated by the arrow 49. The arrangements for startingthe rotation of the cam disc will be further described below in anotherconnection.

It may now be assumed that a record has just been fully played, and thatas a consequence thereof rotation of the cam disc is started in order tocause a record change. This first causes different members, which shallbe described in the following, to act in order to elevate the pick-uparm and swing it to the side, respectively. These operations arecompleted by the time that the pin 4'! comes into cooperation with theinwardly directed part 50 of the groove 48. Due to the movement of thepin in the groove the lever 45 will be turned in clockwise directionabout the stud 45, thereby moving the pull bar 3| to the right, asviewed in Figs. 1 and 2.

From Fig. 1 it is evident that this results in a turning of the lever 28in a counter-clockwise direction, whereby the record pusher 26 will bemoved to the left in the figure. To begin with it will now be assumedthat a small record is placed as the lowest record in the stack. Thisrecord normally rests with its outmost edge on the upper side of thetest pin I48, so that this is pushed down. During the first moment ofthe movement is to the left of the record pusher 26, however, the testpin I48, as well as the push member 33, will be displaced outwardlybeyond the periphery of the record, so that the test pin I48 is pressedinto its upper position due to the action of the spring 34.

The movement of the record pusher to the left is continued until the pin41 has reached the radially innermost point of the bend 56--5I in thegroove 48, and is again moved outwards by the outwardly directed part Iof the groove. The lever 45, the pull bar 3| and the lever 28 then willmove back into their initial positions, but now the push member 33 willgive the record an impulse for displacement to the right, immediatelybefore the record pusher has fully reached its initial position. Thisimpulse is sufilcient to free the record from the notch I3, and itslides downwards along the guide pin I2 into playing position on theturntable I6.

During the continuous rotation of the cam disc 42 the pick-up arm ismoved back inwardly, until the needle is above the initial groove of thenew record, and thereafter it is lowered.

On the other hand, if it is assumed that the lowest record in the stackis a large record, the test pin I48 will not only be pushed down whenthe sequence of movement begins, but it will also remain in pushed downposition during all of the to and fro movement of the record pusher 26.As a result, the angular part 38, during its return movement will catchthe lever 39 and thereby pivot this lever in clockwise direction. Thelower end of the lever 39 is provided with a notch 52, which cooperateswith a further lever 53, shown in Fig. 3.

The lever 53 in Fig. 3 is pivoted about a stud 54 and it is pivotallyconnected at 55 to the pull bar 56, which is at its other end providedwith a pin 51. This pin extends through a lengthened slot 58 in thechassis plate and is on the upper side of the chassis plate connected toa further bar 59. This bar carries a pin 66 at its end which pininfluences parts connected to the cam disc in such a way that thepick-up arm is always lowered in the correct position, regardless ofthe.

size of the record.

The pin 66 is guided in a slot 6I in a bar 62, the ends of which aresupported by the chassis plate in spaced relation thereto above the camdisc 42.

When the lever 39, Fig. 1, is turned in clockwise direction due to alarge record being placed as the lowest record in the stack, the lever53 is pivoted counterclockwise, as seen in Fig. 3, and the pull bar 56is displaced to the left in Fig. 3, and due to the connection by meansof the pin 51, the bar 59 is displaced to the right, as seen in Fig. 2.The movement of bar 59 is guided by the pins 51 and 66 sliding in theslots 58 and 6|, respectively. Consequently due to the movement of thebar 59 the pin 60 moves radially outwardly in the slot 6|. This radialmovement determines, in a manner which shall be described below, theradiu at which the pick-up arm is lowered.

It may occur that the record just being placed in the turntable by meansof the above mentioned operations is not only the lowest but also thelast record in the stack. In this case, obviously, the phonograph motorshould be stopped when the record in question is fully played. For thispurpose the following mechanism is employed:

The table 63, Fig. 2, onto which the edge of the stack of records rests,and in which the rec ord pusher 26 moves, is provided near its outeredges with two rails 64 and 65 in order that the records shall not bedamaged due to the friction against the table.

One of these rails, for instance the rail 65, however, is movablyarranged in such a way, see Fig. 4, that it serves as a means forindication if further records are contained in the stack. For thispurpose the rail 65 is pivoted at one end at 65a and urged upwardly bythe blade spring 66, until stopped by a projection 67, mounted on theunder-side of the rail, contacting the lower edge of the table 63. Anarm 68, spring pressed by spring 360 mounted on a pin 36I, is connectedto the rail 65 for transmitting the impulse to the mechanism forstopping the motor, when the last record has been removed from thestack. The stopping of the motor takes place by means of the followingparts:

On the upper side of the chassis, see Fig. 2, a bellcrank lever 69 ispivoted at I6 and so arranged with relation to the cam disc 42, that onearm extends over the cam disc. The other arm is biased counterclockwiseby a spring II which is connected between the chassis plate and theupper end of a stud I3 carried by arm 69. Hence, the arm extending overthe cam is urged into the path of a pin", mounted on the cam disc, whichcauses the bellcrank lever 69 to be turned about the journal I6 inclockwise direction for each revolution of the disc. By means of thestud I3 this movement is transferred to a pull bar 74, which is mountedon the under-side of the chassis. The other end of the pull bar I4 isconnected with a system of levers including the levers I5 and TIpivotally connected to the connecting rod I6. The lever I5 is movablyconnected at one end to the pull bar I4, and at its opposite end thislever is provided with a notch, which cooperates with the abovementioned arm 68, when this is in the upper position, which it occupieswhen the last record has been removed from the stack. Approximately atthe middle point of the lever"I5 there is connected the connecting rodI6 by means of the pin I9 and the other end of this rod I6 is connectedby a pivot 88 to the lever 11. The lever at one end is movably connectedat the pivot M to the chassis, whereas the lever II carries at its otherend a pin 82, which cooperates with the fork-shaped arm 83 of the switch84 of the motor.

It is assumed that the last record has been placed on the turntable,that the playing of it has been completed and that in a manner, whichshall be further described below, a new record change operation hasbegun. As a consequence of the record having been played, rotation ofthe cam disc 42' is initiated in order to execute the followingoperations, namely, elevating the pickup arm from the record, swingingthe pick-up arm outwardly beyond the periphery of the rec- 0rd, drivingthe record pusher backwards in order to engage the edge of a new record,displacing this record so that it falls down on the turntable, swingingthe pick-up arm in over the record and lowering the pick-up arm on tothe record. At the moment when the record pusher is in its backwardposition, the pin I2 strikes the lever 69, thus swinging it in clockwisedirection. This causes the pull bar I4 to be displaced in a directionupwards in Fig. 3, whereby it will pivot the lever 75 counter clockwiseabout the pin I9. If a record is left in the stack, the rail 65 ispressed down, and the arm 68 is in its ineffective post'- menace;

t on; the nd .of th lever 15 therefore not c ntacting the arm 68,-Hence,-the;lever -15 merely pivots aboutpin 19, and no motion istransmitted t connecting rod I6; If the record just playedv was the lastone in the stack; therail, 65 consequently is pressed upwards by thespring 66, the arm 68 thereby having been movedto its efiectiveposition. Thelever 75 immediately at the beginning of its turningmovement touches the arm 68, and a continued turning of the lever 15about pin 19 as a flexed center is not possible. Theconnectingrod I6 ;ishence moved upwardly and turns the lever H in counter-clockwisedirection, whereby the pin 82 turns the. fork-shaped arm-83 to open theswitch 84, as shown in Fig. 3. The motor thereby is stopped, and willnot operate, until anotherstack oirecords has. been put in place andthemotor has been started manually.

The cam disc. GZ-at ,itsperiphery is provided with a further recess i59. At the moment when the current to the motor-.iscut oif, this recessId9 is aligned with the rubberecoatecl roller 4!, which turns freely outof.contact with the edges of the recess. The driving of the cam disc bythe roller 4!. therefore ceases momentarily, and the cam disc will stop,provided that no other driving impulse is introduced.

If the latest changed-record was not the last record in thestacIL. thelever 15 does not con tact arm 68 and 'theslever 69 after having beenswung out by tthepin =72 is thereafter swung back toits normal positionby the spring ll. During the last named movement the pin will becontacted by the. inclinededge 150 of lever 69, and this edgeconsequently .will press the pin in a direction urging the cam-.disc tocontinue its rotation in the.directioniof.the arrow 49. The cam disc isthusprevented .fromstopping, in spite of the roller it momentarily beingin the recess I49.

If on the other hand thelatest changed recrd was the ,lastone. inthestack, the cam disc stopswiththeroller 6| in the recess I49. Thisaction is; caused by cooperation between the different leversinthe leverconstruction in'Fig. 3. When the switch 8% is brought into openposition. which is the position shown in the figure, the; lever ii ispivoted further in clockwise direction by the action of, the usualtoggle spring in switch at, whereby theconnecting rod 16 is movedfurther in an rupwardly. direction. The left end of lever 'E5 is thusbrought into contact with a stop 15!, the lever 15,.thereafter turningin counter-clockwise direction about the stop [i as a fulcrum, wherebythe lever M. is displaced upwards. This results in the lever 69, Fig. 2,being swung in clockwise: direction so as to prevent the inclinededge-iSQirom bearing against the pin 72. Consequently, the cam, disc 32does not receive the impulse necessary to cause-the roller 4] to engagethe side of recess 149.

When the records on the stack have been removed and a new stack mountedin position on the record pusher arrangement, the motor is again startedby closing the switch 84. This movement causes a turning in clockwisedirectionof the lever 7?, the lever '15 and the pull bar M therebybeingfreed for movement'under influence of the spring I l, which causes thelever 69 to continue its earlier interrupted movement,- the pin 72thereby being given-the impulse required .for starting the cam disc.

The different movementscausedby, the cam disc are divided between thefirst half revolution and: the second. half; revolutionof the, cam disc;During the first half-: revolution there is caused elevating the pickup.

arm, swinging the pick-up arm outwardlybe yond the turntable and drivingback the record;

Thereupon the roller M enters the re-.-

in the followingorder:

pusher. cess I49, and, if the arrangement is brought to a stop, thepick-up arm will consequently remainin its swung out position, so thatremoval of the. stack of records from the turntable may freely; During.the second half revolution; of the camdisc, which is begun after a newstack;

take place.

of records has been put in place and the switch 84 closed, the recordpusher is first carried-for wards, so that a record is dropped on theturntable, thereafter the -pick-uparm is swung in over the initialgroove of the record,- and finally th pick-up arm is lowered to engagethe needle with the initial groove, so that the playingof the recordbegins.

Thearrangement is in other words such that during normal record changingthe cam disc ro--.

tates a full revolution, but if the latest changed recordis the last onein the stack, the rotation 1 the following mechanism is provided. An S-shaped arm 85 is arranged with one part above and the other part belowthe chassis plate. The part placed above the chassis plate carries a pin86 cooperating with the groove &8 in the cam disc. The arm 85 is pivotedby means of a stud 8'1 connectedto the chassis plate, and its other endis connectedto a pull bar 89, visible in Figs. 3 and 5, by means of apin- 82. The. pull bar 89 is arranged to transmit the movement of thearm 85, caused by the cam edge, to bellcrank lever 90 (Fig. 5)., whichis pivotally mounted at 92 on a bracket 9i, extending downwardly fromthe chassis. The other end of the lever is connected by a pin 93 and aslot 94 with the head 95 of,

vertically extending pin 98.

The pin 96 extends through the pedestal 98. ofthe pick-uparm 99,guidedby a sleeve 91, which is turnably arranged in the pedestal, sothatthe turning. of the pick-up arm is made possible. The pedestal 98 issecured to the chassis plate 48-inany suitable manner, as by the rivet98a. At the upper end of .the sleeve 97 a projecting part Ida-isconnected, to the opposite end of which thepick-up arm is pivoted atIOI. Consequently the pick-up arm may beswung about the journal 191, sothat (th elevation of the pick-up arm from the turntable is madepossible. A plate lEl2is secured to the pick-up arm so as to becontacted by the upper end. of the pin 96. The upwards and downwardsmovements of the pin therefore will cause the pick-up arm to be elevatednd lowered, respectively.

The arrangement functions in the followingway:

The position of the cam disc 42, shown in Fig.

2, corresponds to the normal playing position;

in which the pick-up arm is lowered on to the record. When the cam'disc42, in-a manner which shall be described below, is rotated after arecord .hasbeen fully played, the pin 85'will 9. first be movedoutwardly by the part 5| of the groove 48, the arm 85 thereby beingpivoted counter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, and the pull bar 89being moved to the left in Fig. 5. 'This pivots lever 90counter-clockwise and elevates pin 98, which also causes elevation ofthe pick-up arm 89 from the record. By means, which shall be furtherdescribed in the following,

the pick-up arm is thereafter swung out from the record. The means bywhich a new record is placed above the last one on the turntable, havealready been described. After completing the change of record thepick-up arm is again turned backwards above the first groove in the newrecord, and thereafter it is lowered. During this whole operation thepick-up arm is maintained at a fixed height above the turntable, as thepin 86 moves in that part of the groove 48 which is concentric with thecenter of rotation of the cam disc 42. At the moment when the change ofrecord has been completed and the arm is brought back into the positionexactly above the initial groove of the new record, however, the pin 86enters the inwards directed part 50 of the groove 48, and the arm 85 isreturned to its normal position. Consequently, the pull bar 89 isdisplaced to the right, the lever 90 is turned to its normal position,and the pin 96 is lowered in such a way that the pick-up arm is loweredon to the new record. Hereafter the playing of this record begins.

The cam disc 42 is not only provided with the groove 48, shown in Fig.2, but on its under-side there are additional grooves as shown in Fig.3. Through an angle of substantially 120 the groove I03 is arrangedconcentrically about the center of rotation of the cam disc 42. Somewhatmore than 120 of the cam disc is occupied by a substantially expandedpart I04 of the groove,

whereas the remaining part of the disc is occupied by the twosubstantially parallel grooves I05 and I06, respectively, which areseparated by means of a wall I01. At one end of this wall a pointedlever or switch rail I08 is movable about a pin I 09, which extendsthrough the cam disc 42. On the upper-side of the cam disc a triangularcontrol body I I is fixed to the pin I09 and serves to determine theposition of the switch rail I08.

In Fig. 2 the control body H0 is shown in its normal position. If thecontrol body assumes a different position, it is automatically restoredto the normal position, when the cam disc 42 rotates about 30 from theinitial position by a pin III, extending downwardly from the bar 62,which contacts the edge IIZ of the control body II 0. The switch rail I08 is shown in Fig. 3 in its normal position.

When the cam disc is rotated for causing change of records, the arm 85is moved due to the cooperation of the pin 88 with the groove I. Asdescribed above, this elevates the pick-up arm from the record. About a30 turn of the cam is required to complete the elevation, and thereafterthe pin 88 enters the concentric part of the groove 48. Somewhat lateron, however, a pin I I3, arranged on an arm II4, contacts one of theedges of the wide, extended part I04 of the groove described below inanother connection. However, the arm II 8 i connected to a collar 2I9,which is fastened to the sleeve 87, see Fig. 5. The movement of the armI I8 therefore will cause the pick-up arm 99 to be swung outwardly intoa position in which it is beyond the-turntable.

he pick-up arm remains in this position, as long as the pin H3, Fig. 3,remains in the concentric part of the groove I03. When entering theinwardly inclined part of the groove, however, the pin I I3 will bebrought nearer to the center of the cam disc, and consequently also thepick-up arm will be turned inwardly over to the turntable. If the switchrail I08 is in the position shown, the pin will be guided into thegroove I85. The part of the groove I05 which is along side the wall I01is concentric with the center of the cam disc, and consequently thepick-up arm is not pivoted. This position of the pick-up arm correspondsto the initial groove of a small record. The part 50 of the groove onthe upper face of the cam disc corresponds in angular location to thegroove I05, and functions by means of the arm to lower the pick-up armon to the initial groove of the record.

The movement of the cam disc automatically stops in a way which shall bedescribed below, the cam disc thereby again occupying its position ofrest, shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. In this position the pin H3 undernormal circumstances is placed in the enlarged part I04 of the groove,exactly in arcuate alignment with the opening of the groove I05.However, the playing of the record now takes place, and due to thespiral character of the groove in the record, the pick-up arm is pivotedinwardly towards the center of the record. This movement is by means ofthe arm M8, the pull bar H6 and the arm II4 transmitted to the pin I I3,so that this pin approaches the inner wall of the enlarged space I04.When the next record change takes place, the pin H3 is thereforeadjacent to the inner wall of the space I04, and the arm I I4 will inthe manner, above described, again be pivoted outwardly, until the pinII3 enters the'groove I03.

As previously described the pin I48, see Fig. 1, is arranged forindicating if the lowest record in the stack, that is, the record whichis to be played next, is of a large or a small diameter. that thisrecord has a large diameter, the pin I48 is depressed by the record, andhence the part 38 cooperates with the lever 39 so that the pin 80, Fig.2, is displaced outwardly in the slot 8|. When the control body H0,during the rotation of the cam disc, comes into contact with the pinIII, the control body is carried into its normal position, which meansthat the switch rail I 08 is put into such a position that the grooveI03 communicates with the groove I05. However, the control body IIO,during its continued rotation, comes into contact with the pin 60,provided that this has been displaced to its outer position, the edgeIII! of the control body thereby contacting the pin 60. In this way theswitch rail I08 is put into the position in which the groove I03communicates with the groove I06. This movement of the switch rail takesplace just before the pin I I3 leaves the groove I03, and con sequentlythe pin will not be conducted into the groove I05 but instead into thegroove I05. Consequently, the pick-up arm is not turned so far inwardlyover the turntable, but is brought to a somewhat more outwardlyposition, corresponding to the initial groove of a large record.

Normally the shaft II of the turntable rotates Assuming continuouslyduring the change of record as well as Iduringthe playing of a record.However, the cam disc 42 makes but'a single revolution each time arecord is changed, and remains stationaryduring the playing of a record.In order to disengage the periphery otthe cam disc from contact with therubber roller M on the shaft ii there is a recess I52 inthe periphery ofthe cam disc'i42. The recess I52 is so narrow that even very smalldisplacement of the cam disc 42 in the direction of .the arrow 49, Fig.2, is sufficient to bring the'periphery of the cam disc into contactwith the rubber roller 4 I, so that a further revolution of the cam disc42 is started. The arrangements now will be described which impart theimpulse .of movement tothecam disc 42, so that its rotation is started.

The impulse producing means includes the lever I20'which cooperates withthe pin I2. During the rotation of the cam disc 42 the pin I2 willcontact the edge I2I of the lever I20 just before the roller 4I entersthe recess I52, wherebyfthe lever I20 is pressed outwardly about itsjournal I22; At its outer, free end the lever 120 is provided with a camsurface I23, which contacts a pin I24; The pin extends through a holeI25-in the chassis from a lever I23, which is situated on the under-sideof the chassis, and which may thus'be seen in Fig. 3.

From Fig. 3 it is evident that the lever I26 is movable about thejournal I21 and is biased in a counter-clockwise direction by means of aspring I28. The spring I23 therefore tends to press the pin-I24-againstthe cam surface I2 3.

Atits opposite end the lever I26 is provided with a cam surface, whichcontains a notch I29 for cooperation with a tooth I36 on an arm I3Iwhich is journaled at I32 on the chassis.

The arm- I3I is connected by means of pivot I3Ia to a pull bar I33 and abell-crank lever I34, movable about the journal I35, and provided with aprojection I36. The arm I I8 cooperates with the-projection I36, and forthis purpose the arm- I I8 has the form of a cup, open on the upperside, as shown in Fig. 5. Thus, during the last part of the outwardmovement of the pick-up arm, the arm II8 catches the projection I35,whereby the lever I34 is turned in clockwise direction, consequentlymoving the pull bar I33 and the arm- I31. The tooth I30 thus engages thenotch I29, whereby thelever I26is locked in such a position that pin I24engages a notch I31 on 'thecam surface I23,-see Fig. 2. Consequently thelever I20 is locked in the'position shown in thefigure; from which ittends, however, to move under influence-of a spring I38.

It is now-assumed that the playing of a record is "almost completed. Dueto the movement of thepick-up arm inwards towards the center oftherecord thearm H8 has also turned, so that its other upwardlyextending edge is almost in contact with the projection I36. When theneedle entersthe part of the groove which rapidly approaches the centerat the end of each record, the-arm II8 is swung rapidly into contactwith the projection-I33, thereby displacing this projection in such away that the lever I34 is turned in" counter-clockwise direction. Thepull bar I33 willcause a corresponding turn of the arm i3I; so thatthetooth I38 is disengaged from the notch .129.- Consequently-the leverI20 is free to turn under the influence of the spring I38, and thislever therefor is rapidly turned until it contacts a pin -I39-in thechassis plate. Simultaneously the pin -I 24 is forced outwardly by'thecam surface I23 against the action of the spring I28- When the lever I20is driven in counter-clockwise direction under influence of the springI38; its inclined edge I40 contacts the pin I2, which results in animpulse for rotation in counterclockwise direction of the cam disc 42.The periphery of the cam disc contacts the rubber roller 4|, and oneturn of the cam disc together with the operations occurring during it isstarted. These operations have above been described each per se, and afurther description thereof is there fore not necessary. However; it isevident from the above, that the different operations are as follows:

First the pick-up arm is elevated from the record by means of the pin 86cooperating with the groove 5i. Thereafter the pick-up arm is turnedoutwardly by means'of the pin II3 cooperating With the edge of the widepart I04 of the groove on the under-side of the cam'disc. Thereafter thepin 4'] cooperates with the part 50 and thereafter with the part SI ofthe groove 48 in order to bring the record pusher backwards andthereafter again forwards, thereby displacing a record, whcih falls downon the turntable. The groove part I05 or I06 will thereafter cooperatewith the pin H3 in order to turn the pick-up arm backwards into theposition of the initial groove of the record, whereafter thepin 86,guided by the groove part 50'will cause the pick-up arm to be lowered onto the record. At this moment the rubber roller 4| again enters therecess I52, and asthe roller is out of contact with cam disc 42, thelatter will stop. In this connection it should be observed that the pin86 contacts the edge of the groove 5|, practically perpendicular to thedirection of movement, and therefore a large force is required to startthe cam disc rotating. The friction of the cam disc in connection withthis resistance against movement is sufficient to prevent its inertiafrom carrying it beyond the position of rest.

During the final part of the above described rotational movement of thecam disc,the pin I2 contacted the edge IZI of the lever I20. As aconsequence hereof the cam surface I23 was displaced in relation to thepin I24 so that the spring I28 turned the lever I26 suficiently far incounter-clockwise direction to cause the tooth I30 to engage the notchI229. The tooth I30 engaged the notch I29 because the edge of the armII8 was against the projection I36. After the tooth I30has engaged thenotch I29, the pin I24 is held in its position, and the camsurface I23prevents the arm I20irom being turned by spring I38 until the pin I24 isagain released.

The above described arrangement for starting and stopping the cam disc42 functions reliably; if the inner, steeper sound groove on the recordis always situated on the same radius. However this is not the case. Thesound grooves of all standard records of the'same size begin at the sameradius at the outer edge of the record, but dependent upon the length ofthe recorded piece, the innersound modulated grooves are at differentradii. From this inner groove there extends these-called change groove,provided with a greater steepness. This groove consequently maybe atdifferent radii. In order to eliminate the uncertainty of the movementof the projection I36 caused hereby, a connecting link between theprojection I36 and the lever I34 is provided, which functions in such away that only rapid movements of the projection I36 causes'the 1 leverI34 to be moved, whereas slow movement of I the projection I36 does notcause a corresponding movement of the lever I34. Thus the lever I34 ismoved for releasing the tooth I30 from the notch I29 only when theprojection I36 is moved by the outer edge of the arm I I8 at a speedwhich is greater than the normal speed of movement under influence ofthe sound modulated part of the sound groove of the record.

The arrangement is shown in Fig. 6.

The arm II8, which is cup-shaped, is in this figure shown in section.The projection I36 extends into the cup-shaped arm, as described above.It is now assumed that the arm I I 8 is moving slowly in such adirection that the edge I4I thereof contacts the projection I36. As longas this movement is slow, it will only cause the T- shaped arm I42 to beturned about the pivot I43, so that the weight I44 is elevated, and thecylinder I45 is lowered. The cylinder I45, together with the portedpiston movable therein, constitutes a dash pot, which is filled withoil. The piston I46 is pivotally connected with an arm I41 which issecured to the earlier mentioned lever I34. As long as the movement ofthe projection I36 takes place sufficiently slowly,

there is but little resistance to movement of the cylinder I45 withrespect to the piston I46, as the oil may flow without difficultythrough the orifices of the piston I46. Consequently the lever I34 willnot be moved. When, however, the sound modulated part of the groove ofthe record is played out, and the pick-up arm passes into the steeperpart of the groove, the projection I36 will be displaced with a speedwhich is greater than that permitted bythe dash pot arrangement I45-I46.Consequently, the piston I46 will be moved with the cylinder I45, andthe arm I41 and the lever I34 will be caused to follow the movement ofthe projection I36 with the action above described.

In hitherto known record changers, it has been diflicult to change arecord at other times than when the record has been completely played.It may occur that one wishes to play a pile of records through, but itis discovered that there is a bad record in the lot and it is desired tochange the record before it has been played completely. The arrangementsheretofore used required that the pick-up arm be lifted by hand andbrought inwardly to cause operation of the record changing apparatus.However, this has distinct disadvantages. In practice it has proved thatas a rule the records are damaged by such movements with the hand, andoperation is diflicult, especially in record changers of the abovementioned type where the pick-up arm is in an inaccessible location inthe space between the turntable and the stack of records. Furthermore,the desired action cannot be caused without rather great movements ofthis arm, as the pick up arm is usually in one of the outermost turns ofthe groove, but the record changing mechanism influenced by the changegroove is usually of such a kind that it is only sensitive to a changegroove which is arranged rather close to the center of the record.

These disadvantages are done away with by the provision of a manualrelease arrangement for the locking pin I24. This consists in a bar I58being connected to the end of bellcrank lever I34 by means of a pivotI59. The other end of the bar I58 is provided with a pin which extendsthrough a slot in the chassis plate and carries a button I56 at itsupper end, see Fig. 2. If one desires to cause a change of recordsduring the 14 playing of a record, the button I56 is pressed in thedirection of the arrow I53. This causes the lever I34 to turn incounter-clockwise direction, whereby the pull bar I33 and the arm I 3Irelease the connection between the tooth I30 and the notch I29. The pinI24 is disengaged from surface I23 in the manner described above, sothat the inclined surface I40 on the lever I26 strikes the pin 12 inorder to start the cam disc.

I claim:

1. In an automatic record changer for changing mixed records of largeand small diameter, a turntable, an arm extending upwardly in aninclined direction from the center of said turntable, means forretaining a stack of records on the upper end of said arm with said armextending through the center perforation of each record, and means forengaging the periphery of the lowermost record in said stack and fordisplacing said lowermost record radially with respect to the stack, thehorizontal distance between the center of said lowermost record and thecenter of said turntable being at least as great as one-half thedifference between the'diameters of large and small records, whereby arecord, as it moves along said inclined arm from the bottom of the stackto said turntable, is further displaced radially through said horizontaldistance.

2. In an automatic record changer for changing mixed records of largeand small diameter, a turntable, an arm extending upwardly in aninclined direction from the center of said turntable, a shoulder formedon said arm near the upper end thereof for retaining a stack of recordswith the portion of said arm above said shoulder extending through thecenter perforation of each record, a record pusher positioned to comtact the edge of the lowermost record in said stack, projections on saidpusher spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the differencebetween the radii of a large and small record, the horizontal distancebetween said shoulder and the center of said turntable being at least asgreat as said difference in radii, and means for moving said recordpusher to displace said lowermost record from said shoulder, whereby therecord slides down said inclined arm to said turntable and is displacedradially through said horizontal distance.

3. In an automatic record hanger for changing mixed records of large andsmall diameter, a turntable, an arm extending upwardly in an inclineddirection from the center of said turntable, a shoulder formed on saidarm near the upper end thereof for retaining a stack of records with theportion of said arm above said shoulder extending through the centerperforation of each record, a record pusher positioned to contact theedge of the lowermost record in said .stack, projections on said pusherspaced apart a distance substantially equal to the difference betweenthe radii of a large and small record, the horizontal distance betweensaid shoulder and the center of said turntable being at least as greatas said diiference in radii, means for moving said record pusher todisplace said lowermost record from said shoulder, whereby the recordslides down said inclined arm to said turntable and is displacedradially through said horizontal distance, a pivotally mounted pick uparm, means for swinging said arm outwardly from said turntable, a.member associated with said record pusher and displaceable by the saidlowermost record if the latter is a large record, and means under thecontrol of .said member for swinging record, a record pusher positionedto contact the edge ofthe lowermost record in said stack, pro-, jectionson said pusher spaced apart a distance substantially equal to thedifference between the radii of a large and small record, means formoving'said record pusher to displace said lowermost record from saidshoulder, whereby the record slides down said inclined arm to saidturntable, the inclination of said arm being such that the record isdisplaced radiallya distance equal to at least said difference in radii,a pivotally mounted pick up arm, means for swinging said arm outwardlyfrom said'turntable, a vertically extending pin displacea-bly mounted insaid record pusher, a spring urging said pin upwardly, said pin beinglocated so as to be contacted and depressed by said lowermost record ifthe latter is alargerecord, and means under the control of said pin forswinging said pick up arm inwardly oversaid turntable the properdistance to engage the initial groove in therecord deposited on theturntable.

5. In an. automatic record changer for changingmixed records of largeand small diameter, a turntable, an arm extending upwardly in aninclined direction. from the center of said turntable, a shoulder formedon. said arm nearthe upper end thereof for retaining a stack of recordswith the portion of said arm above saidshoulder extending through thecenter perforation of each record, a record pusher positioned to contactthe edge of the lowermost record in saidstack, projections on saidpusher spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the differencebetween the radii of a large and small record, means for moving saidrecord pusher to displace said lowermost record irom said shoulder,whereby the record slides down said inclined arm to said turntable, theinclination of said arm being such that the record is displaced radiallya distance equal to at least said difierence in radii, a pivotallymounted pick up arm, means for swinging said arm outwardly from saidturntable, means normally operating to swing said pick up arm inwardlyover said turntable the proper distance to engage the initial groove ina small record, a vertically extending pindisplaceably mounted in saidrecord pusher, and a spring urging said pin upwardly, said pin beinglocated so as to be contacted and depressed by said lowermost record ifthe latter is a large record, said last mentioned means being operativeas a result of displacement of said pin to swing said pick up arminwardly the proper distance to engage the initial groove of a largerecord;

6; A device as claimed in claim 2 including a pivotally mounted weightedarm bearing on the uppermost record in said stack substantially abovesaid record pusher.

ANDERS J OHAN ANSAR...

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Number Name Date 1,990,885 Winchell Feb. 12, 1935 2,284,305 Slade May26, 1942 2,286,490 Knox June 16, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number 1 CountryDate 281,003 Great Britain Nov. 23, 1927 316,852 Great Britain Aug. 8,1929 451,846 Great Britain Aug. 4, 1936 477,325 Great Britain Dec. 24,1937

